All About Llamas
History of Llamas
Sep 28, 2004, 20:44

The first references on domesticated llamas go back to many centuries B.C., but none have been found regarding the animal in it's wild state.

The pre Inca civilizations and particularly the Incas, paid dedicated attention to breeding llamas which were fundamental in the creation and expansion of the powerful and extensive Inca empireto such an extent, that it became a divine symbol in the worship of the sun in the temples of these dynasties.

They were also used as offerings to inferior deities.

Perhaps the male, the female and the female with offspring , were mythological symbols in much the same way as the swan in ancient Greece, Lua and Leda

There existed a categorization of the offerings according to the deity , the most valuable were the male llamas followed by the females without and with offspring. The breeding of llamas was reserved for the state and the cult, although the people were permitted to raise them on a small scale. The "Kueskas" (Councilors) and government officials, appear to have been authorized to own 50 to 100 llamas (according to hierarchy) . Ownership in excess of the number permitted was sanctioned.

Llamas were indispensable to the Inca military campaigns in the building of their empire for the transport of food and supplies, which expanded in proportion with the number of animals available. They were equally important to the development of their agricultural activities along the length and width of the conquered territories.